Method and device for capture of tumbling space objects

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising: propelling a servicing spacecraft to an object; deploying one or more counter mass(es) away from a servicing spacecraft bus to offset the center of mass of the servicing spacecraft into an empty volume; approaching the object, by the servicing spacecraft; positioning the center of mass of the servicing spacecraft in approximately the same location as the center of mass of the object; imparting angular momentum to the servicing spacecraft to match the tumble rate of the object; and contacting the object with one or more mechanical attachments to the servicing spacecraft.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 propelling a servicing spacecraft to an object;   deploying one or more counter masses away from a bus of the servicing spacecraft to offset a center of mass of the servicing spacecraft into an empty volume;   approaching the object, by the servicing spacecraft;   positioning the center of mass of the servicing spacecraft in approximately the same location as the center of mass of the object;   imparting angular momentum to the servicing spacecraft to match the tumble rate of the object; and   mechanically connecting the object, by an appendage, to the servicing spacecraft.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using one or more of ion beams, electromagnetic induction, magnet torquers, and applied fluidic forces to apply a torque to the object. 
     
     
         3 . A spacecraft comprising:
 a bus;   one or more counter masses; and   a truss structure connecting the bus and the one or more counter masses;   wherein the truss is configured to deploy the counter masses away from the bus to offset the center of mass of the spacecraft into an empty volume at least partially defined by the truss, the empty volume having a circular cross-section having a diameter greater than that of a space object; and   wherein no portion of the spacecraft extends into the empty volume.   
     
     
         4 . The spacecraft according to  claim 3 , wherein the number of counter masses is in the range two to three. 
     
     
         5 . The spacecraft according to  claim 3 , further comprising one or more mechanical attachments which grasp the space object. 
     
     
         6 . The spacecraft according to  claim 3 , wherein the spacecraft is configured reduce an absolute rotation rate of the tumbling space object by ion beams, electromagnetic induction, or applied fluidic forces. 
     
     
         7 . The spacecraft according to  claim 3 , wherein the truss structure is expandable. 
     
     
         8 . The spacecraft according to  claim 3 , wherein the truss structure is collapsible. 
     
     
         9 . The spacecraft according to  claim 3 , wherein the truss structure is configured to deploy with sufficient clearance to allow a center of mass of the spacecraft to approximately match a center of mass of the tumbling space object.